Note 3 - Segment Reporting - Total Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets	$ 2,536,411	$ 2,528,589
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Assets	2,368,105	2,317,495
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	501,798	454,507
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	1,005,590	1,035,033
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, Mountain [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	630,621	571,139
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, East [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	230,096	256,816
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Assets	168,306	211,094
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Mortgage Operations [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	107,904	153,182
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Other Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	$ 60,402	$ 57,912